Ecohydrological advantage of young apple tree-based agroforestry and its response to extreme droughts on the semiarid Loess Plateau

Zhao, Lianhao; Zhao, Xueyong; He, Nana; Zhao, Xining

doi:10.1016/j.agrformet.2022.108969

Cited by 13 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…This indicated that the intercropped green manure crops not only failed to play an important role in water retention during the experiment, but also the soil water depletion was exacerbated by the growth of green manure crops. This result contradicted previous studies [9,30]. This may be because our experiment focused on the effect of green manure crops on soil moisture of the apple orchard in the short period and did not consider the cumulative effect of long-term intercropping of green manure crops.…”

Section: Effects Of Different Green Manure Crops On Soil Moisture And...contrasting

confidence: 82%

Effects of Different Green Manure Crops on Soil Water, Nitrogen, and Yield: Preliminary Results in an Apple Orchard on the Loess Plateau, China

Liang,

Zhang,

Liu

et al. 2023

Agronomy

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Green manure crops intercropping is an effective agricultural practice to alleviate water and nutrient deficit by improving soil properties in the Loess Plateau of China. However, green manure crops intercropping could cause water and nutrient competition, but the effects of different green manure crops intercropping on soil water and nutrient status are rarely evaluated. Thus, we conducted a field experiment to investigate the responses of soil moisture, nitrogen, and yield to green manure crops intercropping. Three intercropping patterns, apple–ryegrass (AR), apple–spring rape (AS), and apple–alfalfa (AA), were set up with a blank control (CK), which employed clean tillage in the inter-row and row. All treatments had no significant difference on evapotranspiration. At maturity, AR, AS, and AA treatments reduced soil organic matter content by 4.2%, 6.5%, and 18.8%, and total nitrogen content by 0.01%, 1.3%, and 20.3%, relative to CK, respectively. The water competition degree in AR, AS, and AA were 38.4%, 48.8%, and 64.6%, respectively. Ryegrass, spring rape, and alfalfa’s nitrogen use efficiency were 19.71%, 29.24%, and 39.42%, respectively. AR and AS treatments increased the apple yield by 11.7% and 5.7%, and water-use efficiency (WUE) by 14.4% and 7.5%, relative to CK, respectively. AA treatment reduced the apple yield by 6.9% and WUE by 6.8%, relative to CK. All treatments had no significant difference on apple quality. Therefore, in normal water years, we suggest adapting the ryegrass–apple tree intercropping pattern for apple production on the Plateau Loess, China.

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Section: Effects Of Different Green Manure Crops On Soil Moisture And...contrasting

confidence: 82%

Effects of Different Green Manure Crops on Soil Water, Nitrogen, and Yield: Preliminary Results in an Apple Orchard on the Loess Plateau, China

Liang,

Zhang,

Liu

et al. 2023

Agronomy

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“…Studies have shown that the extensive and deep root systems of trees in AF systems access water and nutrients from deeper soil layers, redistributing them to the upper soil profile, thereby enhancing water efficiency and cash crop yields (Cardinael et al, 2015; Deng et al, 2022; Isaac & Borden, 2019; Jose et al, 2004; Li et al, 2022; Ramachandran Nair et al, 2010). The “nutrient pumping” effect and complementary water‐use patterns of AF systems facilitate resource utilization and nutrient cycling (Arenas‐Corraliza et al, 2022; Borden et al, 2017; Burgess et al, 2022; Cannavo et al, 2011; Cannell et al, 1996; Cardinael et al, 2015; Deng et al, 2022; Isaac & Borden, 2019; Schwendenmann et al, 2010; Van Noordwijk et al, 2015; Zhao et al, 2022). For example, one study demonstrated that litter from Faidherbia trees (8–22 years old) can contribute significant amounts of N, P and K to corn production, with higher corn yield, soil total N and SOC under the tree canopy compared with outside under the canopy (Yengwe et al, 2018).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Additionally, AF practices can positively impact the microclimate experienced by crops, providing resilience against drought and heat waves (Arenas‐Corraliza et al, 2022; Gomes et al, 2020; Karvatte et al, 2020; Kuyah et al, 2019; Schwab et al, 2015; Zhao et al, 2022). The shielding effect of tree leaves reduces direct solar radiation exposure to crops, moderates canopy temperature extremes, increases air humidity and enhances crop tolerance to drought stress (Arenas‐Corraliza et al, 2022; Campi et al, 2009; Coble et al, 2020; Gutierrez et al, 1994; Inurreta‐Aguirre et al, 2018; Kanzler et al, 2019; Lin, 2007; Serrano et al, 2018).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil properties affect crop yield changes under conservation agriculture: A systematic analysis

Ren,

Zou,

Jiao

et al. 2023

European J Soil Science

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Conservation agriculture (CA) has the potential to sustain soil productivity and benefit agroecosystems, yet it is not fully understood how yield responses of different cropping systems are affected by inherent soil characteristics, e.g., texture and dynamic soil properties, such as aggregation, nutrients, and erosion. In this study, we conducted a systematic review to compare crop yield from cropland with conventional management versus different CA practices, specifically reduced‐ or no‐tillage, agroforestry, organic farming, and cover crops. The data were first analyzed for different climatic regions, soil textures, and cash crop types. We then quantified how yield responses correlated with soil properties changes under different CA practices. The results showed that CA practices were associated with an overall mean crop yield increase of 12%. This response was primarily driven by corn, which had a mean yield increase of almost 41% after CA implementation, whereas other cash crops did not have significant yield responses or showed slight decreases, as rotation with mixtures of multiple cash crops had mean decrease of 6% when using CA. The increase in corn yield after CA may be related to the enhanced ability of that crop to absorb nutrient elements (e.g., nitrogen) and reduce nutrient leaching. Agroforestry increased crop yield by 66% and cover cropping increased yield by 11%, likely due to increases in soil water content and nutrient availability and decreases in erosion and surface runoff. However, other agricultural systems showed no significant increase after CA compared to conventional row cropping practices. Using CA practices had the greatest yield benefit in tropical climates and when farming in coarse‐textured soils. In addition, legumes and grass‐legume mixtures resulted in significant cash crop yield increases, possibly because legumes promoted the increase of soil nitrogen and depleted soil moisture less compared with other cover crops. The results provide new insight into how interactions between soil properties and CA practices affect crop yield, and at the same time can help guide the development of practical, evidence‐based guidelines for using conservation practices to improve yield in corn and other cash crops.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

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“…For instance, trees could potentially exacerbate yield losses that are incurred by drought conditions. Moreover, the efficacy of AFS in resisting more intense drought is debatable in water‐limited regions (Jacobs et al, 2022; Zhao et al, 2022). In contrast, shade might adversely affect crop productivity during wetter and colder years (Jacobs et al, 2022), while the beneficial effect of shading in terms of reducing heat stress might become quite relevant during early heatwaves (Blanchet et al, 2021; Reyes et al, 2021; Swieter et al, 2022).…”

Section: Response Of Agroforestry To Climate Changementioning

confidence: 99%

Agroforestry potential for adaptation to climate change: A soil‐based perspective

Rolo

Rivest

Maillard

et al. 2023

Soil Use and Management

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Agricultural systems face several challenges that threaten their capacity to feed the world while maintaining a healthy and functional environment. Climate change, together with soil degradation, biodiversity loss, resource scarcity and invasive species, is a major threat to agricultural systems worldwide. In this context, new practices have been proposed to circumvent or minimize these threats. Yet, these mostly focus on the farm or plant level (e.g., breeding for stress‐tolerant species), while frequently overlooking belowground components (e.g., soil organic carbon accrual). By interlinking above‐ and below‐ground components, the likelihood of limiting the negative effects of current threats to agricultural systems can be maximized. This review explores current knowledge regarding agroforestry and its effects on belowground components as a key property in the reducing effects of climate change. We first review tree effects on key soil properties of agricultural systems. We synthesize evidence regarding agroforestry systems response to current environmental threats that are related to climate change. We continue by discussing how soil processes play a fundamental role in the capacity of agroforestry systems to cope with climate change. We conclude by proposing options on how resilience of agroforestry systems could be further enhanced.

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Ecohydrological advantage of young apple tree-based agroforestry and its response to extreme droughts on the semiarid Loess Plateau

Cited by 13 publications

References 45 publications

Effects of Different Green Manure Crops on Soil Water, Nitrogen, and Yield: Preliminary Results in an Apple Orchard on the Loess Plateau, China

Effects of Different Green Manure Crops on Soil Water, Nitrogen, and Yield: Preliminary Results in an Apple Orchard on the Loess Plateau, China

Soil properties affect crop yield changes under conservation agriculture: A systematic analysis

Agroforestry potential for adaptation to climate change: A soil‐based perspective

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